Hohe Wand South

Hohe Wand South is a south-east-facing cliff site in Lower Austria — a rock wall that produces good thermals almost year-round, starting from mid-morning and often working right through to sundown. It's a busy site: paragliders, hang gliders, sailplanes and model aircraft all share the same lift band, especially on weekends. Getting away XC from here always involves some flatland flying. The 'Südstart' cliff launch, a few hundred metres south of the Postl Restaurant, is a proper cliff launch — you should know what you're doing.

Launch & conditions

Südstart (SE–S winds): a cliff launch a few hundred metres south of the Gasthof Postl. Know what you're doing before launching here.

Getting there & local rules

Drive up the toll road (about 3 EUR/day) and park at the Gasthof Postl car park; give lifts up when you can. Usually you hitch back up after landing — locals are friendly and you'll get a ride. Alternatively, walk the Völlerin-Steig in about an hour (proper shoes). Landings: 'Weide Kehre' just below takeoff in the first switchback (also used as a training hill); 'Mautstation' about 100 m south of the toll station; 'Weide Maiersdorf' out in the valley, most commonly used by hang gliders (watch them land and you'll spot it). Top-landing next to the Postl is possible — generally not recommended, but generally practised.

Local rules & hazards

CTR Wien above 1,850 m — when leaving south or west that ceiling opens up to 2,550 m further out. Do NOT XC towards Vienna: the CTR closes in and traffic is dense. SW to N wind can be flyable but very sporty (lee-side thermalling — the thermal often overlays the wrong wind direction and turns it flyable). Stronger westerly or northerly winds (>10 km/h) are truly dangerous — nasty turbulence. Very high traffic on weekends: PGs, HGs, sailplanes and model aircraft share the same lift band.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Hohe Wand South, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Hohe Wand South with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.